Rivenhall & Silver End Parish Magazine

August 2013 40p Our Services this Month

4h August 2013 10th Sunday after Trinity 9.30 am St. Francis Holy Communion Rev. Paul Watkin 11.00 am St. Mary’s All Age Worship Rev. Paul Watkin

11th August 2013 11th Sunday after Trinity 9.30 am St Francis Morning Prayer Rev. TBA 11.00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion Rev. Val Drury

18th August 2013 12th Sunday after Trinity 9.30 am St. Francis Morning Prayer Lay Led 11.00 am Matins W. Orley

25th August 2013 13th Sunday after Trinity 9.30 am St. Francis Holy Communion Rev. Simon Garwood 11.00 am St. Mary’s Holy Communion Rev. Simon Garwood

Church Contacts Priest-in-Charge Rev. Paul Watkin 01376 583930 [email protected] Churchwarden Oliver Clarke 01376 514825 Churchwarden Peter Hope 01376 502605 Rivenhall Contact Carole McCarthy 01376 512781 Silver End Contact Ruth Aitken 01376 583846 Please hand articles for the magazine to Peter Hope or email to [email protected] by 18th of the month. Rivenhall Website www.stmarysrivenhall.co.uk St Francis Silver End Website www.st-francis.org.uk/ Rivenhall School www.rivenhallprimary.co.uk/

CAR TREASURE HUNT—In Aid of St Mary’s Building and Appeals Sunday 11th August 2.00 p.m

For More Information Contact: Martin Andrews 07952 708220

Church Opening For all those who would like to visit the church or show Friends round: St Mary’s Church Rivenhall is open from 2.30 to 4.30 p.m every Sunday from 5th May to 6th October

We (The editorial team) reserve the right to edit (i.e. cut, précis, alter, correct grammar or spelling) any item published and our decision is final Monthly musings from your parish priest. On Sunday the 21st of last month, both St Francis and St Mary's churches welcomed The Reverend Canon Jenny Tomlinson as our guest preacher. A large part of her work in this area of our diocese, sees Jenny with a special role as advisor in Mission and Ministry; part of which includes working with parishes in thinking about stewardship and Christian giving. This is a subject for each of us to prayerfully consider as part of our commitment to Christ's work in the world, and to assure the continued presence of our churches in our communities – not only for today but for future generations to come. As the saying goes: 'The future is in our hands'. Having heard her preach I felt that what she said was so important that I wanted to share it with you all. If you were there on that day, this provides an opportunity to read through what she said in her sermon. Or otherwise the chance to read (what I hope you'll find) her inspiring message for the first time. The readings on which her sermon was based were a passage from St Paul's 2nd letter to the early church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 9:6-11), along with the gospel appointed for the day: Luke 10:38-42. The latter being the story of Mary (sister of Lazarus and Martha – all friends of Jesus) sitting and listening to Jesus whilst Martha was busy with domestic chores. It would be good to look these passages up in your Bible and read the below with them in mind. (I've omitted reproducing their full texts here due to the space it would take up.) Plus alongside this you'll also find a folded document in your magazine this month in connection to the below too. I hope you'll also find it useful and interesting and I would commend it to all readers to spend some time considering. And I would also be pleased to hear back from you on the questionnaire if you'd like to fill it in – It would be wonderful to know more about what you would like to see from your churches, and how we can continue to serve the communities of Rivenhall and Silver End. So without further a-do, I commend to you the below sermon from Jenny: Jesus, his 12 disciples, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. A total of 16 people for supper, and the person who should be helping you cook is sitting listening to someone talk! No wonder Martha gets irritated – distracted, Jesus calls it. We use that word when we’re drawn away from what we should be doing by something else – for teenagers at least it always seems to be Facebook. At work it might be an interesting piece of news as we’re on our way to the photocopier; in the last few days my husband starts to make a cup of tea and gets distracted by the Tour de France or the cricket score… The unusual angle here is that Jesus implies that far from Mary being distracted from what she should be doing by Jesus’ teaching, it’s Martha who is distracted and worried! Now I’m sure I’m not the only one to find this story challenging – but Jesus is saying something very important about priorities. In an age when women weren’t expected to learn from a rabbi, Mary chooses to listen to Jesus, and he praises her choice of what 1 really matters. Like Mary and Martha we all have to make choices about what we do, and to decide what is important. That’s true of every aspect of our Christian lives: How we spend our time, what work we do, what areas of church life we get involved with, and how we use our money. A couple of years ago Victoria Darbishire on Radio 5 live asked listeners to text in and say what they didn’t want to give up in the recession. If you’re having to cut back, she said, what is it that you want to hang on to, what really matters? Some people might buy cheaper food, or go less to the gym, in order still to be able to afford a drink on a Friday night or the occasional curry. The reality of how we spend our time and money often reveals what is important to us. Where does God feature in that? Mary found Jesus so compelling, so interesting that she sat at his feet and listened. This passage in Luke’s gospel follows the story of the Good Samaritan, and I wonder if Jesus was telling stories like that one, illustrating how God’s people were to behave, giving a totally different perspective on life, offering teaching that was fresh and new, where love was the priority, the guiding principle. Mary gives us a picture of discipleship; you might say that’s it’s a picture of prayer. If Martha was anything like me, she will have been banging and clattering around for quite a few minutes before she burst in and asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Mary doesn’t get distracted by what else is going on, and manages to stay focused on Jesus. That’s one of the marks of discipleship – the commitment that keeps our attention where it should be. Jesus points out to Martha that ‘Mary has chosen the better part’. Jesus doesn’t oblige or compel us to do anything, but invites and encourages us. That’s true of our giving. Paul writes to the Corinthians that ‘God loves a cheerful giver’. Let’s not think of our giving to God as being like income tax or a subscription to a group – it’s our free, loving, grateful response to the God who loves us beyond anything we can imagine and has given everything to us in Christ. You see the love of a couple on their wedding day, or the devoted gaze of new parents at their tiny baby, and you can see the beauty of it, the romance. But real love translates into getting up in the night when the baby cries, going to the shop in the rain because you’ve run out of milk, putting the bins out and getting the laundry done, It doesn’t sound quite so beautiful or romantic but it’s real love. In the same way, being committed to Christ translates into giving what we can give in order for his Kingdom to grow, for his Church to be effective. Of course that won’t just be money. God invites us to worship, to

2 pray, to give our time and energy. But in the same way that money is necessary in the rest of our life, so it is in the church. Paul tells the Corinthians that they are to give ‘as you have made up your mind’. In other words, Christian giving is to be deliberate, planned, carefully thought through, rather than what we happen to have in our purse or pocket on a Sunday morning. We need to sit down and work out, prayerfully before God, what it’s right for us to give. That is something very personal and so it’s kept highly confidential. We’re accountable to God for our giving and no-one else. If we are already giving regularly, then we review the amount we give. Does it really reflect what we can manage? What does it say about the importance of God in our lives? Maybe we think that what we can offer isn’t worth giving, but remember how greatly Jesus valued the two small coins that the widow put in, because it was all she had (Luke 21:1-4). We need to work out how we’re going to give: is a standing order the best way so that we still give on the Sundays we go to visit the grandchildren or whoever? Or does the envelope scheme suit us best? If we pay income tax, can we possibly Gift Aid it, so that every £4 becomes £5 at no cost to us? These are practical questions but underneath them is a question of faith: dare we believe St Paul when he tells the Corinthians that God who supplies seed to the sower will supply and multiply our seed for sowing. In other words, when we want to give to God, we’ll find that somehow we have the resources to do it, and we will discover that God blesses us as we trust him, as we stretch ourselves a little, as we seek to be generous in response to all that God has given us. The sun has been shining and seeds sown back in the spring will eventually be harvested. From tiny beginnings, God brings abundance. It’s easy to say that what we can do won’t make any difference. If everyone thinks like that there certainly won’t be any change! But if each of us is committed to giving what we can give to build God’s kingdom in this place, then let’s see what God will do with our faithful response. We can all be part of that. There will always be many calls on our finances; we must be responsible about our different commitments But let’s remember that image of Mary at the feet of Jesus, refusing to be distracted and drawn away from the Lord she was learning to know and to serve. We come [this morning] to receive afresh from God. As we kneel let’s pray that we might know that only one thing is needed: our love for Christ, and everything else will flow from that. Amen.

3 From the Registers Funerals: Non Memorial Service Beryl Joyce Blackaby 8th July 2013 Baptisms: 7 July 2013 Reggie Crump 21st July 2013 Kirsti Louise Watkin, Harriet Phelps Weddings: Non

Readings & Collects for August 2013

4th August 2013 10th Sunday after Trinity Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 Collect Lord of heaven and earth, As Jesus taught his disciples to be persistent in prayer, Give us patience and courage never to lose hope, But always to bring our prayers before you; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 11th August 2013 11th Sunday after Trinity Genesis 15:1-6 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Luke 12:32-40

Collect God of glory, the end of our searching, help us to lay aside all that prevents us from seeking your kingdom, and to give all that we have to gain the pearl beyond all price, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

18th August 2013 12th Sunday after Trinity Psalm 82 Jeremiah 23:23-29 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56 Collect

4 God of constant mercy, who sent your Son to save us: remind us of your goodness, increase your grace within us, that our thankfulness may grow, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 25th August 2013 13th Sunday after Trinity Isaiah 58:9b-14 Hebrews 12:18-29 Luke 13:10-17 Collect Almighty God, you search us and know us: may we rely on you in strength and rest on you in weakness, now and in all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The 50/50 Club The Churches in Rivenhall and Silver End are suffering financial diffi- culties and one way people could help is by recruiting new 50/50 club members or even taking out a second membership for a family member as a Christmas or Birthday gift. The prizes are £30 for first, £20 for 2nd, and £10 for third prize and the draw is monthly. Annual membership is £12. If you would like to sign up or want further information please let me Peter Hope 01376 502605 or Oliver Clarke 01376 514825 know. Many Thanks Peter The 50-50 winners for June were:

1st Mrs G Poulter, 2nd Mr J Cooper 3rd Mr J Ritter.

RIVENHALL PARISH COUNCIL NOTES OF MEETING HELD 2ND JULY Present: Cllrs. Bills (Chairing), Wright, Brailey, Prime, Turner and Clark. Also present: Parish Clerk and 5 members of the public. Apologies: An apology was received from Cllr. Abbott who was at- tending BDC Planning Committee.

5 Public Forum Continual problems caused by parking close to the School in Church Road. While waiting for the parking revisions to be finalised by the NEPP, Cllr. Bills will endeavour to arrange liaison with the Police, Headteacher, Road Safety Officer, residents and parents to highlight the dangers presented by this parking. Matters for Discussion Potential Parking restriction at the Recycling Site and lay by in Henry Dixon Road Before any request is submitted to the NEPP, the parish council must monitor the sites over a period of time (minimum 3 months) to pro- vide clear evidence of the on-going problem. Cllr. Bills has com- menced this and will continue as requested. Any submission by the Council is likely to take up to a year before any traffic regulation or- ders can be implemented. This will be included again on the Septem- ber agenda.

Tarecroft Wood – possible freehold transfer The Clerk is still awaiting details of the second fencing estimate and a reply from ECC. This will be included on the August agenda. Feedback re First Bus routes 131/132 Cllr. Prime attended the Passenger Transport Meeting and reported that First Bus indicated that both services should be more reliable in the future. It was reported that this service was still inadequate. It was agreed that a notice be posted on the bus stop notice board requesting bus users to contact Cllr. Prime when their expected bus fails to arrive. Funding for any new bus shelters needs to be via the Braintree Local Highways Panel. Should future roadworks block roads in to Rivenhall the local bus service would be via The Broadway, Silver End and then to either With- am or Braintree via Cressing Road, thereby missing Rivenhall entire- ly. RPFA ‘Fun Day’ The Clerk is collating information to be displayed at this event and requested Members to let him have any relevant documents including training attendance certificates issue by EALC.

6 Network Rail parking on verges in Oak Road/Henry Dixon Road Problems arise when Network Rail vehicles are parked on the footway and verge between the Railway Bridge and the Council notice board. It was agreed that the Clerk contact Network Rail requesting their co-operation in exploring alternative parking arrangements. Update re safety improvement of A12 junction with Oak Road There was nothing further to report other than that in the Govern- ment’s Highways Expenditure proposals recently announced, there was no mention of any improvement work to the A12. County Highway maintenance Various potholes within the parish still require repair. Both the zebra crossing beacon post in Church Road and the keep left post in Henry Dixon Road still await reinstatement. General maintenance The Council’s Maintenance Contractor was requested to give attention to the following:  Hedges along Henry Dixon Road and the slopes and steps leading to the A12  Clean the area near the Notice Board in Henry Dixon Road  Continue painting the posts around the Village Green and re-proofing the seats  Grass seeding the verge along Rickstones Road below Stoverns Hall Farm  Inspect damage to the cable close to the telegraph post on the small Village Green area and make safe if possible. Planning applications 13/00704/FUL: Front extension – 27 Oak Road, Rivenhall End. Members raised no objection. Ongoing Planning Issues Local Development Framework The next LDF Sub-Committee meeting was scheduled for 11th July. Braintree District Local Highways Panel The next Panel meeting was scheduled for 4th July. Correspondence RCCE 2013 Annual General Meeting on 10th July at Writtle College, commencing at 7.30pm. The Chairman (Cllr. Abbott) to attend if re-

7 quested by RCCE. Information exchange and items for the next agenda No progress with regard to re-opening of the Post Office. Members remarked on the good workmanship on the rebuilt wall at the Village Hall. Resulting from the broken water main small stones have been washed onto the footway along Rickstones Road. If Mem- bers are approached by local residents regarding this, then any problem should be reported to the BDC Clean Team. The new footbridge at Motts Lane Railway Crossing is to be installed on Christmas Day 2013. Dates of future meetings

Tuesdays 6th August in Rivenhall Village Hall, and 3rd September in The Henry Dixon Hall, both at 8pm.

Sky Notes August 2013 The annual Perseid meteor shower reaches maximum activity on the night of August 12/13th and this year circumstances are very favourable as the young Moon will have set soon after 10pm BST leaving the rest of the night Moon free. Activity rates will increase through the night as the shower radiant climbs higher in the sky. By 11pm BST the radiant, below the W formation of stars that make up Cassiopeia, is 40 degrees up in the North East. If it is clear then away from street- lights it should be possible to see a meteor on average about once a minute. What often happens though is that several come along in quick succession, then a gap before the next burst. By late evening in mid-August it is fully dark, the all-night summer twilight having ended. By the end of the month it is fully dark by 10pm BST. Saturn is still visible in the evening twilight in the West but by months end is getting low. A young crescent Moon will be near the ringed planet on the 12th. Full Moon is on the night of the 20th/21st, reaching 30 degrees in altitude when due South.

8 Through August the early autumn constellations become more prominent in the East, including Pegasus and Andromeda. From dark sites it is just possible to see the Andromeda Galaxy with the unaided eye. This is the most distant object readily visible without optical aid, over 2 million light years away. Like our own Milky Way galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy is a "grand-design" spiral. In binoculars it appears as a large elliptical hazy patch. With a telescope it is possible to see detail and structure, including some of the many dwarf galaxies that orbit around it. Sky Watcher

End to End Nature Care. Tarecroft Wood has been under the spotlight over the last couple of years since the coppicing work commissioned by Essex County Council caused some controversy. For anybody not fa- miliar with it, it’s the first wood accessed on the public footpath along the track from the parking area next to the bungalows on Rickstones Road. Some readers will no doubt know that it is actually quite a famous little woodland, particularly as it has featured often in the writings of Oliver Rackham OBE, one of the pioneers of “historical ecology”. At 16 acres it is not a large wood but it is thought to be a rem- nant of the so-called “wildwood” which developed over much of Britain after the last glaciation until it was largely felled by man- kind’s land management activities. That is not to say that Tarecroft is truly wild, as it has been extensively managed his- torically and has some very old coppice stools. However, its ancient origins are suggested by the mixture of trees and plant communities it contains, particularly the Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata). Partly as a response to the coppicing controversy, and partly just out of sheer curiosity, the Nature Care group recently at- tempted a casual survey of the Small-leaved Limes in the wood. Using a map produced by Rackham as a guide, a large typical specimen was soon found on the lower west side of the wood. The leaves are heart shaped with quite regular venation and while they are not hairy or downy, unlike a Hazel for example, they have tiny clumps of hairs on the underside at the vein nodes, which was easily seen using a hand lens and is very characteristic. 9 The flowers and fruits aid identification too, as does the character of the bark and indeed the overall habit and shape of the tree. Splitting into two groups to cover more ground, we soon found more specimens, mainly coppices at various stages of maturity, and so were encouraged at the health of the population. Incidentally, coppicing often prompts an explosion of ground flora as light is suddenly able to penetrate the woodland floor. This was investigated last year and largely disappointing but this year it seems to have taken off. It was noted earlier in the year that the typical spring flowers showed very well and now in summer the open area is an explosion of wild flowers. We noted in particular the yellow blooms of Ribbed Melilot and both Hairy and Perforate St. John’s-wort. Despite the arrival of August and the evenings starting to shorten, we still have a full programme of events, listed below. Full details of these and all the group’s activities are available on our website at www.e2e.silverend.org or by contacting Simon on 01621 810141 or 07947 388180.

Wednesday Ambling in the Terling area. Meet in Hulls 19.30 7thAugust Lane, Terling (TL764148). Saturday Walk to Stone Marsh Island, N of Walton-on- Morning 10thAugust the-Naze. Arrange car share in advance. Botany evening in the Stisted area. Meet at the Wednesday 19.30 entrance to the track south of Jenkins Farm 14thAugust (TL786238). Bring ID guides and hand lens. Building bird and bat boxes at Stovern's Hall Wednesday 19.30 Farm (TL825172). Bring tools but materials are 21stAugust provided. Ambling on Rivenhall Airlfield, possibly Wednesday 19.30 looking for fossils. Meet at the Allshots 28thAugust Enterprise site (TL830201). Walking around Silver End pits. Meet at the Wednesday 19.00 Western Arms. 4thSeptember EARLY Probably followed by a drink in the pub.

10 Recipe for August by Ann Clarke This is a good cake for picnics. Nice and moist Dorset Apple Cake Gas 6, 200⁰, 400⁰, lightly greased 7” square tin

2 ozs margarine cubed 2 ozs castor sugar 3 oz Self Raising Flour 2 oz mixed fruit 1 crisp green apple peeled, cored and cut up small 1 medium egg 1 tablespoon milk Demerara sugar to dredge Rub fat into flour, add rest of ingredients to dropping consistency. Spoon into tin, smooth top, sprinkle sugar over top and bake in centre of oven for 35 – 40 mins Allow to cool in tin before removing. Cut into squares and enjoy. CAPTION COMPETITION

It is amazing what happens in hot weather Martin Andrews and I (Peter H) opened the vestry cupboard to be greeted by the sight below:- please let me have your captions and if they are printable will publish in the next magazine.

11 Bingo! Saturdays 7.30pm - 9.30pm Rivenhall Village Hall, Entry 50p Bring a friend for an evening of fun! Everyone Welcome Call Jack on 01376 514255 Scottish Country Dancing Rivenhall Village Hall 2nd & 4th Monday of the month, 7.30 -10pm Great for fitness and a good laugh too! Call Sue on 01206 303338 Rivenhall Carpet Bowls Rivenhall Village Hall Every Thursday 7.30pm – 10pm Come along for an evening of fun with this friendly club. The Ark It's Open House at Rivenhall Village Hall Saturdays 2pm - 4pm Come along with friends for Tea, Coffee & Cake Have fun with Arts, Crafts & Puzzles Meet new friends, all ages welcome Sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventist Church Tel: 07538 599584 or email [email protected] Coffee Morning Rivenhall Village Hall Every Friday 9am – 12 noon Tea, coffee, cake and a chat with friends Table Tennis Rivenhall Village Hall 2nd &4thMonday of the Month 2pm – 4.30pm, Entry £3 Membership of Witham and Braintree U3A required £15 pa visit the Witham and Braintree U3A website or for further information please call Gerry Gunton 01621 819682 or email [email protected] or visit the table tennis page on the village hall website www.rivenhallvillagehall.co.uk

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16 Harp Recital St Francis Church Sat 20th July On a warm summers evening we were treated to a feast of music from a lovely young lady Kirsten Smith. I arrived expecting to quite enjoy the evening in a passive way but it turned out to be so much more special than I’d expected. Kirsten is an extremely skilled harpist with a delightful singing voice and a very engaging personality. The mixture of music she played for an audience of 40 was very interesting ranging from the Streets of London, to Pachabell Cannon in D, You Raise me up to Disney film songs and songs from the war such as A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square. All were introduced by Kirsten giving an interesting narrative and the reasons for her choices. During the first half of her performance her mother Alayne gave us a short history of the harp and during the second half we were given detailed information about the Renaissance inspired design of Kirstens own harp, which has a large sound box producing enough sound without amplification to fill St Francis church. We were also intrigued to learn that it has 6 pedals each with three positions that vary the pitch and key the harp can be played in. During the interval we were treated to strawberries and cream together with a glass of wine. At the end of the performance Kirsten conducted a questions and answer session on the Harp and related the history of the instrument which in it’s modern form with pedals dates from a design by Jacques-Georges Cousineau from around 1760. Kirsten indicated that it would take about 7 years to learn to play the harp with regular tuition. The evening was warm and I wondered how many people passing the church paused to listen to heavenly sounds emanating from the open windows and doors? The evening raised approximately £426 towards St Francis “Raise–the-Roof” appeal. We are all very grateful to Clare Hope for organising the event. As I watched Kirsten playing the elegant harp with the background of the barn church the sight and sound combined seemed to suggest a feeling of romance and enchantment. Kirsten said we had been such a good audience that she would love to return and play again next year. This is especially flattering because Kirsten is a very busy lady. She teaches Physics and Chelmsford Girls Grammar and during the school summer holidays she will be helping to renovate a narrow boat. So , if you haven’t yet heard Kirsten play and if she returns next year I would strongly recommend that you join me in the queue for tickets. Margaret Martin

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19 RIVENHALL GARDENING CLUB In place of the usual July meeting in the village hall, 18 members enjoyed an afternoon at Wickham Place Farm on the outskirts of Witham. We were unfortunately too late in the year to see the famous wisteria stretching for some 252ft and which this year featured in local and national newspapers and on local television. There was, however, much of interest in the remainder of the garden which boasts a 2acre walled garden, 10acres of woodland, wildlife ponds and a folly surrounded by a box knot garden. Wickham Place Farm dates from around 1706 and the black mulberry in the garden is thought to date from that time. It was a very hot afternoon and we were pleased to sit in the shade for our tea and cake before making our plant choices from the excellent home grown plants propagated by the owners Judith and Terry Wilson, who donated the proceeds from the afternoon to Farleigh Hospice. On Saturday 13th July, the Club held their annual Fuchsia Show in Rivenhall village hall. The number of entries were down on previous years but the flowers on show looked very colourful and attractive. The judge was Mr. Coote from Kelvedon . Homemade refreshments were enjoyed and the raffle drawn. President, Mrs. Joan Cain, presented the following awards: Fuchsia Cup and Blue Rosette for Best in Show CYRIL PHILPOTT Bronze Medal CYRIL PHILPOTT Crested Spoon BILL WYE William Foster Trophy JIM JARVIS Webdale Trophy CYRIL PHILPOTT Rose Basket LILIAN PEARCE and LINDA JARVIS

Floral Arrangement Class 22 Photographic Class 21 1st LINDA JARVIS 1St PAUL SCOTT 2nd DOT TAYLOR 2nd CYRIL PHILPOTT 3rd PAT CLARK 3rd PAT CLARK

20 DOMESTIC CLASSES

1st 2nd 3rd Shortbread Tracy Taylor Pat Clark Karen Hopgood Date Walnut Faith Murtoin Karen Hopgood Rosemary Neville Cake

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Show's success. THE CLUB DOES NOT MEET IN AUGUST.

The next meeting will be in the village hall on Tuesday 10 th Septem- ber, at 7.30pm, when Dr. John Macefield will talk about the history and growing of Sweet Peas. Competitions will be Horticultural — any vegetable. Domestic – 3pcs of ginger cake. Flower of the Month. En- trance is £1 to include refreshment. All are welcome.

The Club's SUMMER SHOW will be on Sat. 7th September, and is open to members and non-members. All entry forms to be with Tracy Taylor by Wednesday 4th September. For further details contact the Club secretary on 01376 512781.

BARN DANCE Live Band Friday 18th October 2013

Feering Village Hall

Tickets £15 Including Food Order Tickets Early to avoid disappointment

Contact Clare Hope on 01376 502605 or Text 07904 235101 To Pre-Order your Tickets

21 Backpacking - Pilgrims’ Walks in Spain & Portugal: John Macrae Between 2000 and 2006, always in September, I walked several long Caminos in Spain and Portugal; probably seven or eight hundred miles in all. These tracks are traditional pilgrims’ routes to the famous Gali- cian cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain where the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried. There are scores of Caminos across Europe and even North Africa that lead the faithful to the sacred relics: one such route actually starts in this country!

I am no humble pilgrim but these ancient routes had a great fascina- tion for me and they traverse some extremely remote, isolated and unspoilt parts of Europe and beyond, places the tourist would rarely experience.

Many faithful still follow these routes and I was fortunate to meet several on my journeys: they always carry an identifying scallop shell (the scallop being the symbol of St James and a traditional Galician food). The shell also acts as a metaphor - the grooves in the shell, which meet at a single point, represent the various routes pilgrims travel to reach the final resting place of Saint James.

Work started on the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in 1075 and it is golden, glittering and majestic. At the end of my first Spanish walk I was most fortunate to arrive on the day when a pilgrims’ service was taking place: a most moving occasion in glorious surround- ings - to see the massive incense burner swinging across the nave is inspirational, awe-inspiring, and spirit lifting.

I stayed in hostels, local homes, guest houses and hotels - whatever was available. It was very humbling when peasants working the fields and plantations came to me offering grapes, fruit and bread to sup- port me on my way. It is probably just as well that my Spanish is lim- ited and that I couldn’t explain that my mission was to walk the ancient route for self-pleasure rather than do holy penitence and gain heavenly worth!

Across the world, large towns and cities tend towards corporate style, with international same-ness; but each rural village and hamlet invari- ably has its own identity, its own individuality, and its own spirituality. I was talked-to in many languages, often truly understanding little, but the empathy, simple kindnesses, and Christian goodness always won through.

22 On one evening with three of my friends I arrived at a humble rural village a few days walk from Santiago. We bought two bottles of Ri- oja and sat outside our nights abode to toast our good fortune, our camaraderie and yet another wonderful day. No sooner had we sat down when the local priest walked by from his church: we offered him a glass of wine which he gladly accepted. He sat down with us in the late sunshine and together we enjoyed a wonderful evening … you cannot plan these moments, they just happen. Whilst staying overnight in Muxia a massive storm swept over us (though curiously, and fortunately, all my serious Camino walking was in achieved in hot and sunny conditions). The night storm caused many trees to come down and swelled many streams and rivers. Late that evening I walked down to the shore in heavy rain and observed the angriest sea I have ever witnessed - massive waves crashing onto the vicious rocks and cliffs below, and sea-spray being blown hun- dreds of feet into the air: the name of this coastline … Côte de la Mort - the Coast of Death … I was not surprised! The following day I had to wade one vicious stream and clamber over many fallen trees and past mud-slides - as I was walking ahead of the others I relished in my challenges with nature, the elements, and myself. Having arrived at my night’s abode it was hours before my friends arrived: I discov- ered that they had taken a long detour around the swollen stream after their one of them had been swept under whilst attempting the crossing! He was absolutely fine but very damp! One enchanting walk linked many of the old, whitewashed, former Ar- ab villages high up in the Sierra Nevada to the Spanish provincial cap- ital Granada with its truly breath-taking, never to be forgotten Alham- bra Palace. The year after my first Camino (The Way of St James) I spent three weeks camping and backpacking in New Zealand. Another continent; more challenges; great memories of glaciers, tropical rain forests, awesome stars, Captain Cook and more … a story for later.

Date for your Diary PET Service 6 October 2013 St Francis Church Silver End 3.00 p.m. Bring your Pets for a Blessing to Celebrate the Saint Day of Our Church St Francis of Assisi

23 Family Fun

The daughter was straightening her fathers collar and he was touched by her concern: “Daughter” he said “will you look after and care for me when I get old”? She replied “Yes Daddy I am going to get you a carer” ~~~~~ Answering machine message, "I am not available right now, but thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes." ~~~~~ My wife and I had words, but I didn't get to use mine. ~~~~~ Frustration is trying to find your glasses without your glasses. ~~~~~ The irony of life is that, by the time you're old enough to know your way around, you're not going anywhere. ~~~~~ God made man before woman so as to give him time to think of an answer for her first question. ~~~~~ I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one. ~~~~~ Dr. Robert Runcie I remember encountering a lady in one of the parishes where I was bishop who had taken the scriptural phrase, “Drink ye all of this” to mean that when it came to her turn to take the chalice she drained it completely ~~~~~ There once was a pious young priest Who lived almost wholly on yeast “for” he said “It is plain We must rise again And I want to get started at least”

24 Orchids They are everywhere! Garden centres, Supermarkets, mail order, etc. Plants that used to be for the rich, are now as cheap as chips. Orchids are amazing. The orchid family of plants contains more species than any other family of flowering plants, thought to be at least 22,000, world- wide, but no one knows for sure. Orchids are found growing wild in almost every climatic zone, the only exception being arid deserts and the polar regions Some orchids are terrestrial ( growing in the earth) and others are epiphyt- ic ( growing on trees ), and obtaining moisture from aerial roots. To the ancient Greeks, the testicle shaped pseudo stems were a symbol of fertility and so came to be used as an aphrodisiac. The orchid, planifolia was used by the Incas of Cuzco for flavouring food. It is now grown com- mercially for the same purpose. The orchids we can buy as house plants are the result of man's ability to exploit nature, By cross pollination and now by meristem culture in labora- tory conditions, thousands of plants can be produced at a reasonable cost. In the wild orchids are pollinated by insects. The strategy adopted is to offer these insects the prospect of sex! pseudocopulation ). I will not elabo- rate. Our native orchids are not flamboyant like the tropical orchids but they are small and delicate. However , they have all the same features as the rest of the orchid family. I have a nice patch of our native orchid, the Common Spotted, grown from a plug plant! At the RHS Orchid Show, a school, Writhlington Academy , has an exhibi- tion of orchids that they grow. This growing and breeding of orchids all be- gan 20 years ago when a teacher started an after school Garden Club. The school has gone on to develop a reputation for their expertise in orchid breeding and growing. In 2011 the school were awarded prizes for Best Orchid and Best Specimen Orchid at the RHS Show and they were invited to take part in the World Orchid Conference in Singapore. Quite an achieve- ment for a school of 11-18 year olds . To find out more about this school, go to " Writhlington School Orchid Pro- ject " Treehugger

25 Memories from a Bygone Age Episode 1 by Louis. A. Langstone (1894 -1975) (Kath Lewis’s Father)

I was born in Jubilee Cottages in the parish of Feering, Essex, on 9 July 1894. I was one of five boys and we had two sisters. Out of the seven only a sister and I survive.

I was educated at the village school, and like all other boys I used to get up to all sorts of pranks. The first one I can remember is - the man who lived next door had a double row of runner beans across his garden in full leaf and when he was at work I pulled up both rows and laid them down in rows across the garden and by the time he came home to lunch they were too far gone to plant again. He didn't complain, but just planted, two more rows to replace them.

After passing seven standards at school I was allowed to leave at the age of 13 provided I had a job to do. I got a job on a farm at the princely sum of 2/6d for a six day week. If I did overtime I was paid ½ d per hour - my work was scaring birds, the seed bed reached from one end of the field to the other. I was issued with a pair of wooden clappers and as I was walking the length of the field, the birds always met me going in the opposite direction! ! So they still did plenty of damage! !

After a time I left the farm and went to work at the village stores for 3/6d per week. I did all kinds of jobs, such as driving the ponies and grooming and feeding them, coalman, and sundry other duties. I remember a lad called 'Tushy' Beaumont once selling the same rabbit skin eight times the same day thanks to me, for instead of hanging it in the drying shed as I was supposed to do, I just threw it back into 'Tushy's' back garden where he was waiting to catch it to sell again - of course skins only fetched 1d in those far off days - Woodbines (Cigarettes) were 1d for five so we were able to have several smokes after that!!

Another escapade my brother and I got up to was to place a big heap of dry plaster against the door of a certain person's house, tied the string to his door bell, took it across the street climbed the tree and we were just about to pull when we heard footsteps coming up the street and it was my father, he stumbled over the string, which pulled the bell and the door was opened to let in a load of a dust

26 . We came down the tree whilst my father and the man were talking, went indoors, sat on the stairs to hear what was said when my father came in. He asked my mother if we were in and she said "Yes, they have been in bed for hours", so off we went to bed and never heard any more about it. My mother often covered up for us.

Later on my father got me a job at Prested Hall (a large house in the village, later owned by the Spastics Society)* in the gardens at 15/- per week. I remember one thing that happened during the time I worked there. We used to do three or four days lawn mowing every week during the summer months and in those days we used a horse drawn mower. The horse had to wear leather boots so it did not damage the lawn. 'Gus' Shelley used to lead the horse whilst I was holding the mower and we were not aware we had cut over a wasps nest on the last cut, as it was a bit rough we went back on the same cut - the wasps stung poor old 'Gus', he left the horse and dived into the shrubs to brush the wasps off him, leaving me to look after both the horse and mower. The horse was covered in wasps and was making straight for the lake so I had to brush them off the horse and was stung on both eyes, I just managed to see my way home and my eyes were both closed for a couple of days.

*Editor’s Note: This house has was later returned to the original family the Sherwoods, but for the past 15 years has been a hotel, sports and Racquets club where the unusual sport of Kings and queens Real Tennis can be played.

I stayed at Prested Hall until I was twenty, when war broke out in 1914 I joined Kitchener's army and was posted to the11th Essex Regiment in which I served until the end of the war. Thousands like myself were joining the army, the politicians in those days were the same as today, never ready for any emergency, so we were training in our civilian clothes and a right old lot we looked - some in good suits, some with the backside out of their trousers, some wearing bowler hats, straw boaters or caps! It was a month or two before we were kitted out and then we were paid compensation for wearing civvies - 7/6d each - whatever the state of the clothes when we joined up and there was not a lot of difference at the end.

To be Continued…..

27 Friday September 6th Henry Dixon Hall Rivenhall End 7.00 p.m for 7.30 p.m

Tickets £10.00 adults £5 Children For Tickets Contact Ann Riddleston:- Tel 01376 515400 Ann Kerr:- Tel. 01376 515437

Authentic Indian Cuisine Please Bring Your Own Drinks and Glasses

To avoid disappointment please book early and also make known when booking any food preferences

28 Organisations in Rivenhall Clerk to Parish Council Keith Taylor 516975 Email [email protected] meets every first Tuesday Age Concern (Witham area) Margaret Prime 514255 End to End Nature Care Simon Taylor 01621 810141 Gardening Club Carole McCarthy 512781 Meets on 2nd Tuesday at 7.30pm in Village Hall Carpet Bowls Mick Marshall 512836 Meets every Thursday at 7.30pm in Village Hall Playing Fields Association Stephanie Bills 07594 648117 Facilities Hire of Village Hall Stephanie Bills 07594 648117 Hire of Henry Dixon Hall Dot Taylor 571551 Mobile Library 7th 21st Aug Beech Road 4.10 to 4.30. p.m. Oak Stores is open Mon to Fri 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat & 7.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Sun The proprietors are Sam and Kirsty Norman 618659 It is planned to have the Post Office re-opened as soon as possible

Organisations in Silver End Clerk to Parish Council Mrs B. M. Temple 618464 Email [email protected] Bowls Club Roy Howard 583222 Children’s Centre Jane Carey 587960 Neighbourhood Police PC Simon Hull 07974 457258 Congregational Church Sharon Gray 583913 First Responders Mel Gymer 585535 Friendship Club Ruth Aitkin 583846 Silver End Gad Abouts Denise Sullens Smith 583055 Gardening Club Cynthia Wright 583485 Guiding Group Sam Hutchings 07977 418192 Neighbourhood Watch Judy Hill 07896 975839 Scouting Group Denise Sullens Smith 583055 St Mary’s Church (R.C.) Vivian Phillips 583598 Tennis Club Jason Cairns 584581 Workers Educational Assoc. Brian Gillion 583706 Luncheon Club Helen Thomson 583255 Doctors Surgery 583387 Silver End Heritage Society Jackier Nesbitt 585702 Post Office in Co-op - please note that it closes at Lunchtime Library: Tues & Thurs - 2pm to 6pm Saturday 9am to 1pm Friendly Bridge Tournament

Monday 16th September 2013 Henry Dixon Hall Rivenhall End 10.30 am for 11.00 a.m. prompt start Break for 2 Course Lunch with Wine Entry £17.00 Per Player BUMPER RAFFLE For Tickets please telephone : Ann or John on: 01376 515400 or 07775 722622

In Aid of St Mary’s Church Funds

CAR TREASURE HUNT Sunday 11th August 2.00 p.m

Start from Rivenhall Hall Farm adj St Mary’s Church £9.00 per Car In Aid of St Mary’s Building and Appeals Com- mittee

For More Information Contact: Martin Andrews 07952 708220